Nighteyes and FitzChivalry have both grown up, and yet, Fitz is still unrealistic about his relationship with Molly. He has a frank talk with Starling, gets to know Kettle slightly more, and also passes off Nighteyes as his dog not so convincingly. They continue heading to the the river crossing in the blistering cold while Fitz is forced to confront his relationships. 

We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Farseer Trilogy in The Realm of the Elderlings.